Advocacy for the counseling profession: results of a national survey.

Journal of Counseling and Development, September, 2004 by Myers, Jane E.; Sweeney, Thomas J.

Advocacy, the process or act of arguing or pleading for a cause (Lee, 1997), includes social activism as well as the promotion of a profession. The counseling profession originated from concerns for clients (Brooks & Weikel, 1996), thus advocacy on behalf of clients has traditionally been perceived as an integral part of the counselor's role (Lee & Walz, 1998). Advocacy for the counseling profession emerged as a phenomenon of the late 20th century, as a direct consequence of the evolution of counseling as a separate and distinct mental health profession (Sweeney, 1995). Client needs and strategies for advocacy on behalf of clients have received considerable attention in the professional literature (e.g., Lee, 1997; Lee & Walz, 1998; Smaby & Daugherty,...

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